Top 5 Live-Thursday December 17

Top 5 Live-WURD Thursday December 17

1. Mistrial declared in trial of Officer William Porter in death of Freddie Gray

A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the trial of Baltimore Police Officer William G. Porter, after jurors told a judge it could not reach a verdict on any of the four charges against him.

“I do declare a mistrial,” Judge Barry G. Williams announced in a downtown courtroom.

2. Superintendent: Phila. Schools Face Shutdown In January Due To State Budget Impasse

Pennsylvania’s long budget stalemate could soon make it impossible for some school districts to get another loan to stay open.

William Hite, superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, says in light of the budget impasse, it can continue making payroll while operating without state funds through the end of January. After that, whether schools remain open, Hite says, is uncertain.

3. The Latest: Grand jury indicts officer in teen’s death

A grand jury has indicted a white Chicago police officer charged in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald.

According to a copy of the indictment posted Wednesday on the Chicago Tribune’s website, Officer Jason Van Dyke was indicted Tuesday on six counts of first-degree murder and one count of official misconduct.

4. Fed raises interest rate for first time in nearly a decade

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday its first interest rate increase in more than nine years in a landmark move signaling the US has finally moved beyond the 2008 crisis.

The move, which has repercussions across the global financial system, also imprinted Janet Yellen’s personal stamp on US monetary policy after nearly two years as Fed chair spent plotting to reverse course from the easy-money stance bequeathed by predecessor Ben Bernanke.

After contending that his client was targeted in an anti-corruption sting because she is African American, a defense lawyer dropped that allegation Wednesday and instead negotiated a plea deal for State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop in which she agreed to immediately resign from the legislature.

Charles Peruto Jr. said that after reviewing evidence assembled by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, he had concluded that his charge of racial bias “has no viability.”

Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com and morning host on 900 am WURD radio. Click here to learn more about Solomon